"We rely on handouts from neighbors, otherwise there is no reliable means for our everyday survival." — Abukakarr Sillah, who lost his parents to Ebola, on the struggles he and his brother face.
Normal life elusive for Ebola survivors
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Normal life has proved elusive for Ebola survivors who struggle with health complications and face discrimination from people who still fear the deadly virus. It’s also been difficult for the country’s 8,500 children orphaned by the disease. Phileas Jusu reports.
Iliff conference focuses on indigenous peoples
DENVER (UMNS) — As protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline continue at the Standing Rock Sioux Camp, United Methodist Iliff School of Theology in Denver hosted a conference Oct. 10-11 to help the community better understand the intersection between religious dominance and the taking of lands from indigenous peoples. Charmaine Robledo of the Mountain Sky Area reports.
Volunteer trainings set after hurricane
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the South Carolina Conference has scheduled several trainings for volunteers to join its Volunteers in Mission Early Response Team. ERT and other disaster-related teams “are stretched thin,” said Matt Brodie, the conference’s disaster response coordinator. Jessica Brodie reports for the South Carolina Advocate.
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North Carolina bishop on Hurricane Matthew
Call for nuclear weapons ban
UNITED NATIONS — A joint statement by religious organizations calling for abolition of nuclear weapons was introduced Oct. 12 during the civil society presentations at the U.N. General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. The statement supports the multilateral negotiation of a nuclear weapons ban in 2017.
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Commentary: Schism is a failure of love
COLUMBIA, S.C. (UMNS) — In a commentary, retired Bishop Kenneth L. Carder writes about the current prospects of a split in The United Methodist Church. “However we may rationalize schism as faithfulness to truth and orthodoxy, or as the cost of bold prophetic witness, the world correctly sees it as the failure to love,” he writes.
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Connecting via laptop in Sierra Leone
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (UMCOM) — United Methodist district superintendents in Sierra Leone will now present reports differently — not in the old-fashioned, business-as-usual, paper-written style. Thanks to a new project through a United Methodist Communications initiative, each district superintendent in the country received a new laptop for their ministry and to help them more easily communicate with others. Phileas Jusu reports.
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Looking ahead
Here are some of the activities ahead for United Methodists across the connection. If you have an item to share, email [email protected] and put Digest in the subject line.
Thursday, Oct. 27
Reformation Day at Emory University — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. “Law and Grace: Martin Luther, Lucas Cranach and the Promise of Salvation” is the theme for the conference. The gathering will explore the Reformation painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, “Law and Grace,” from the standpoints of art history, biblical studies and theology. The event will be at the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, 1531 Dickey Drive. Optional $10 for lunch. Registration required. Details
Saturday, Oct. 29
Jubalani: A Concert of Remembering and Rejoicing — 6-8:30 p.m. CDT at Evanston Township High School Auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, Illinois. This music and arts event celebrates the launch of the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Tickets are $20 for adults, $7 for students. Details
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